Orthodox Holy Week and Its Theology

Course level:All Levels

Course Duration: 8h 30m

Last Updated:February 11, 2026

This course is taught by:

Fr. Philip Zymaris, Th.D.

Course Description

The continuing education course Orthodox Holy Week and Its Theology by Fr. Philip Zymaris, Th.D. Assistant Professor of Liturgics, consists of four lectures. Lecture One: Theological Foundation and Liturgical Origins of Holy Week; Lecture Two: The Bridegroom Services; Lecture Three: Holy Thursday and the Passion Orthros; Lecture Four: Holy Friday Hours, Vespers, and Holy Saturday.

Taught in lecture format, this course aims to study the theology and symbolism, as well as rubrics wherever they are pertinent, of the Greek Orthodox celebration of Holy Week.

Course Modules

Theological Foundation and Liturgical Origins of Holy Week
a. The Paschal Mystery b. The encounter with the Crucified and Risen One. c. The Johannine School, the origins of Pascha, and the Johannine notion of the human being. d. From the Quartodecimans to the Triduum e. From the Triduum to Holy Week f. Relation between Great Lent, Holy Week and Baptism g. Saturday of Lazarus h. Palm Sunday

Theological Foundation and Liturgical Origins of Holy Week

The Bridegroom Services
a. The Bridegroom Services as a unit b. Main themes c. Ethos and particularities of the services d. Icon e. Dismissal Hymn and Exaposteilarion f. Holy Week books

Holy Thursday and the Passion Orthros
a. Holy Monday b. Holy Tuesday c. Holy Wednesday

Holy Friday Hours, Vespers, and Holy Saturday.
a. Holy Thursday Orthros b. Holy Thursday Vesperal Liturgy c. The Orthros of Holy Friday (Twelve Gospel Passion Service) d. The Royal Hours e. The Apokathelosis Vespers f. The Lamentation Service (Holy Saturday Orthros) g. The Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday